ABSTRACT
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is an age-related degenerative disease and a major cause of low back pain. IDD greatly impairs the quality of life of patients and dramatically increases the economic burden of patient families. There are currently no effective intervention and treatment for IDD, partly due to a lack of understanding of its pathogenesis. The establishment and characterization of IDD animal models are critical for defining mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis. IDD is a complex process, which is affected by mechanical stress, injury, biochemistry and gene expression. In this review article, we summarize several IDD animal models generated by utilizing abnormal mechanical stress, injury, biochemical and chemical induction and gene knockout. Biomechanics play a key role in maintaining intervertebral disc homeostasis, and abnormal mechanical stress can cause IDD. Usually, IDD is accompanied by structural injury which exacerbates IDD. In addition, biochemical and chemical induction and knockout of key genes can also lead to IDD. Among the different factors causing abnormal mechanical stress, there are two mechanical stress models: pressure model and instability model. According to the structure of intervertebral disc, there are two structural injury models: the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus injury model and the cartilage endplate injury model. The biochemical and chemical induction model and the gene knockout model are summarized, and the applications and limitations of different IDD animal models are discussed.